Jade

Date: Apr 07

Redung Island, Tregganu

Summer View Hotel

Indonesia - Jarkata

Date: 17-21 Feb 07, CNY.

Hotel: Grand Hyatt

Flight: SQ

Shopping: Plaza Indonesia, Senayan

To be continued….

Date: 29 Dec - 7th Jan 2007 @ Courtyard Marriot Hotel (Near Beverly Hills)

Shopping:

1.

Factory Outlet Mall:

1. Dessert Hills

To be COntinued…………

Date: 21-29 Dec 06 @ Downtown (Condo)

Going to Canada and US (in separate article) end 2006 were a surprised given to me. For the past years, my travelling is always within the Asia Region (except for my study in Australia) and did not venture further as I find it costly and also it did not cross my mind to go too. I think if there is any intention, then the only motivation to go shall be purely for shopping.   

Prior departure, I bought only few warm clothes + Long John to prepare for the coldness in Toronto as the temperature can go down to min 0 degree or minus. . The idea is to get the winter clothes overseas as the design and vairety are alot much more and nicer as compare to SG.

The flight duration to Toronto was long but luckliy I did not feel any boreness. We flew by SQ and transit in Japan (SG->Tokyo, 5hrs), then fly straight to LA (14 hrs) to catch another international flight to Toronto (5hrs).

Food was not served by Air Canada. Any idea why ? And sadly somehow when me and my BF tried to get our boarding pass at SG airport, it failed to issue by the system. So we have to wait till we reach LA to get it issued. However by then when we got our boarding pass, it was too late to secure a side by side seat. Though we are being separated, I do not feel unhappy as I spent the hours sleeping my way through. It must be the change in the timezone that is taking effect..

We touched down Toronto at 10pm (Local time, 9pm (SG shld be 7am) and was welcome by my BF’s sister in law. We took the rental car (White Chrysler) and headed home (my bf’s parent’s condo) , located at downtown (Near Air Canada Center) overseeing the Ontario Lake. The view was really nice as we stay at a higher floor.

The days we had in Toronto was quite leisure. Somehow I feel that it seems like my Uni days in Brisbane. Peaceful, slow and relaxing.

The weather in Toronto is a real fact that it is really COLD COLD COLD. Somehow my body choose to "disobey me" by developing Cold Rashes (Allergy to the coldness). The cold rash that I have is horrible. It resemble small pox and the rash started on the very 1st day, at the back of my hip. There is no pain and itchiness but the rashes starts to spread actively to my legs and shoulders the next few days. Luckily, my face is not affected and I did not encounter any discomfort despite the rashes over my hip and legs. In fact, I am still enjoying myself.. However, when I went to LA in a weeks time, the sympton of slight itchiness started (Refer to my LA blog).

Now, it is time to describle the places I been to:

Shopping:

1. Eaton Center @ Yonge Street (Longest Street in the world) and is the City’s largest shopping Center (e.g. Fruits & Passion).

2. YorkDale Shopping Center @ Dufferin Street (Highway 401) (e.g. Town Shoes)

3. SquareOne Shopping Center @ City Center Drive (Highway 403) - Largest shopping Center in Ontario. (Near to Airport - Last day when we leave for Toronto to LA)

4. The West Mall (CK)

5. Downtown Yonge - Yonge Street between Front and Bloor Streets, centred around Dundas Street.

6. Bloor and YorkDale Street - Prada, Gucci, Chanel, Louis Vuitton and many more upscale designer labels can be found here.

7. Bloor Street West - Holt RenFrew,Gap

8. Sherway Gardners for Burger.

9. Cafe Nervosa @ YorkVille Ave.

10. LobLaws Queens Quay Market @ Lower Javis (SuperMarket)

Tourist Attraction:

1. Air Canada Center at Bay Street - Watch NBA (Raptors) (Entrance Fee - $100 Canadian (Xmas Gift)

2. Vineyard along to Niagara Fall

3. Niagara Fall

====To BE CONTINUED=====

Date: 5-8 Oct @ Asia Hotel

This shall be my 4th trip to Bangkok. Bangkok’s new airport was ready by 1st October 2006 and we are fortunate to be the first few "thousandzz" who "experienced" the new airport.

My sister and I booked this trip 6 mths ago when we chanced upon Tiger Airway’s promotion. It was only $140 Nett (include taxes). 

There were 4 of us (Siblings) travelling this time round. As per most SIngaporeans would do, we covered the common, yet popular areas:

Shopping areas:                                                                                          Suan Lum Night Bazzar Market, Mah Boon Krong, Siam Sqaure, Tokyo, Gaysorn Plaza, Amarin Plaza, Siam Paragon (New), Plantinum Plaza (New)

Tourist Attractions:                                                                                     The Grand Palace & Erawan Temple (Four Face Buddha)

For Grand Palace, we visited the place as both my sister and bro-in- law have never been there. We started off in the morning and despite it was drizzling, it did not disrupt our trip. We took a lot of pictures and the pictures are available at my Photo Album.

For Erawan Temple, it is a newly built temple. The original was "murdered" by someone for "some reason". The person was beaten to death on the spot then. Usually when I go Bangkok, praying to Four Face Buddha is definitely one of the items I would definitely make an effort to do it.

People also say that when it comes to praying Four Face Buddha, it is usually best pray at 7pm (When the sunset). Four Face Buddha adores girls and as always, I will make sure I am well dressed and make up prettly when praying to Four Face Buddha. Four Face Buddha in Bangkok is famously known for it’s "quick response", especially for "striking lottery and getting a baby". If you sincerely pray and asked for it, one will definitely get it. And if you pray and promised to return for gratitude, then you must make sure that you fufilled your promised. Else one shall be "cursed" …

Does anyone actually know why Four Face Buddha is built at that particular spot, where it is now? The answer is because, Hyatt hotel used to be "haunted" and Four Face Buddha Temple was built to "suppress" it …

Thai Foot and Body Massage

I am not sure why during the foot massage, I no longer feel the "strained" and
"pain". No matter how much strength was applied, I feel "numbness". People often said that when you feel the "pain" and "strained", it means that your body has a lot of "problems". If that is so, does it means that I am getting healthier? haa…  How I wish I am ..

Food

Every day, we will follow the same routine of having our breakfast at the hotel. It is usually packed with people. Lucky we were always the LAST few of the "Early Birds", we don’t have to wait for long before we are showed to our seats.

The next dinning comes around 5-6pm and usually we will just settled at any convenient place. When it comes  to supper, actually, on the first night, we chanced upon a street hawker who served very marvellous, delicious "Tom Yam" & " Barbecue Pork & Chicken". The delicious food were agreeable by 4 of us!!!

The place is actually quite desserted as we have to make our way through a dark, narrow alley, behind the hotel. However, we make an effort not to go there so late.. "Safety is more important"…

Expenses

As usual, the trip is fun and as usual, I had thought that I will not be spending so much money (which I am usually will do so if I have set my mind on that). The last trip when I went Bangkok, I spend only S$200..But this time, I end out spending around $600 which I don’t see myself carrying big luggage back. The things I buy are "naked" to the eyes but worst is that I can’t even "See" what I have bought during this trip!!! People ask me and I cant even tell them what I have bought… **Puzzeled **…

Photo

A lot of pictures were taken using my Nokia Mobile - N73. Was quite impressed with the output. Have upload the pictures into my Photo Album.

Date: 28 Dec 03 - 2 Jan 04

  Our continous trip from Taiwan to Hong Kong was proceed on 28 Dec 03. Though both places are Winter period but it was so much cooling in Hong Kong.

Our stay at Hong Kong was at my friend’s relative house and again this trip has saved alot for our accomodation. Our aim for this trip is purely shopping but as you know this is a winter period, most of the clothing are Jackets, sweaters and coats. Moreover the sales does not seem to be that fantastic as compare to the past years… But in terms of friendliness and politeness, they are wonderful, as compare to the past years too..

For Shopping:

Causeway Bay, Harbour City, Nu Ren Jie (Ladies Market), Espirit Warehouse, City Plaza, Kowloon Tang, Sham Shui Po. In fact the whole stretch from MK, Prince Edward, Jordon, TST are a good shopping areas.

For places of Interests:

1. Lantu Island

2. Wong Tai Sin Temple

3. The Peak (Victoria)

4. Repluse Bay (Harbour)

For viewing, please take a look at my photo Album

Date: 23-27 Dec 03

The trip to Taiwan was accompanied by my sister and 2 of our Uni friends. We decided to reach Taiwan on 24th Dec 03 so as to celebrate Xmas. Thereafter, our 2004 New Year will spend at Hong Kong. The ticket we purchased allow us to transit at Hong Kong.

It was Winter period when we touched down at CKS International Airport. Our stay was at a friend’s house. THis saves us our accomodation cost. The service apartment is spacious and is at a centralised location.

As usual, the iternary is planned by my sister. Our friends were impressed by her iternary as all the places of interests that we wanted to go was properly planned; with detail navigation e.g. Type of transport to take, schedule timing of the transport, charges and etc.

Places of interests and shopping that we have explored:

1. Shilin Hot Spring (Took MRT)

2. Dan Shui - Selling Clothing and food etc. (Took MRT)

3. Shilin - Hot Spring (Took MTR)

4. Jiu Fen (Took MRT)

5. Shilin Night Market - Street Market & Food Stand.

6. Rao He Street Night Market - Small & Nothing much as compare to Shilin.

7. Wu Feng Pu Street - Selling big bulk clothing mainly for wholesaler.

8. Tapei World Trade - 101 Towers & Shopping.

To view more pictures, feel free to take at look at my Photo Albums

Date:1-3 Apr 05 @ Asia Hotel

Bangkok is always a place SPOREAN will never be sicked of. This shall be my 4th trip to BK. The last trip that I went is for praying. As for this time, it is mainly organised by my sisters.

As usual, we will go to places where it is always frequent by tourists and locals. My younger sis planned for the iternary.

Took a lot of pictures, feel free to take a look –> Photo Albums

Date: 2-7 Sep 05-Shangri-La China World Hotel.

After my last visit to my father’s hometown (Fujian-FuZhou), which I believed was about 15 years ago? Since then, I never have a thought of going back to China.

Beijing’s trip was made partly because my sister was on a business trip. I decided to bring my Mom there. This savely minmize my budget.

We took SQ because it is safer and luckily it was having
"2 to go" promotion price. Each ticket costs around $800 (include airport tax).

The weater was nice and cooling through out our journey when we touched down in BJ. While we are there, I explore the shopping area intensively so that I can bring my sister around after she is off from work.

This trip to Beijing really changed my misconception of China’s people. I found that Beijing’s people are nice, honest, friendly and easy going. I have been telling people that Beijing is really a good place for holidaying, due to the fact of these reasons (1) People are wonderfully nice and friendly, (2) Good and cheap shopping paradise (3) Cheap food!!!

For shopping, the places that I have been:

(1) The Silk Market (Xiu Shui Jie) - Allows bargaining and usually you can bargain to half of the original price.

(2) WanFuJing Shopping Center - Sell Branded goods, expensive.

(3) Oriental Plaza Shopping Mall - Avg only.

(4) Xidan Commercial Street (named "2nd WangFuJing") - Budget and good to shop. We did our hair cut too.

As for eating, what you definitely can’t missed is the "Peking Roast Duck". There are few famous Roast Duck stalls:

(1) WanFuJing Roast Duck (2) QuanJuDe Roast Duck - Established in 1864 and is one of the oldest and most famous. (3) BianYiFang Roast Duck.

Despite just only shopping and eating, we also went to a few tourists attraction:

(1) Great Wall (BaDaLing) - Magnificent view. Marvellous at how these people construct the wall. The steps are very steep and uneven. Make it difficult for those seniors who have difficuties in walking.

(2) Forbidden City

(3) Summer Palace - Ci Xi Empress’s resting place.

THe above pictures are available at my Photo Album. Feel Free to take a look.

Date: 11-12, 14-16 Nov 04 @Ho Chi Min-RiverSide Hotel(3 stars)

13-14 Nov 04 @Da Lat-Novotel Hotel (5 stars)

Ho Chi Minh (Former Saigon)

Ho Chi Min-Saigon used to be under French Colonial. Most of the places are built according to french style. (HCM airport: Tan Son Nhat)

If you were to asked me if Saigon is a good place, I would say No.

I don’t really like Saigon, especially when I have a bad encountered with the people there.

There was one night when we walked past food stalls stationed along the road. We decided to rest our weary legs by having some local drinks. When our drinks are served, I asked how much. The stupid, idiotic, dirty OLD HAGGARD, full of wrinkle Vietnames old woman started to shout at us, insisting us to pay S$3 for a soft drink. I know that she is trying to cheat our money. So, I asked the table opposite us, also Vietnames. They knew that the stupid OLD HAGGARD woman is cheating on us, but they just keep quiet and gives a cunning smile! I am so angry that why these VIETNAMESE are of one kind.

Another bad experience with the VIETNEMESE is at Da Lat’s RESTAURANT!!!

The moment when we were there, the waiter seems friendly, chatty and humourous. He then comment that I look "pretty" (But he has a motive for saying that). After the dinner, we asked for the bill and found that it seems a bit expensive than expected. So, we checked on the items. We found that the waiter add in extra charge for the fruits that was on the house. And he overcalculated the total cost also. We told him and he quickly pretend he do not know and make the amendment. When we pay for the final bill, he still got the cheek to ask us for TIPS!!! This is so ridiculous. It is as good as a day light extortion!!! But we give him some since we don’t want to make things difficult. Upon taking the money, he sneekly took the money and put into his pocket, so as not to let the cashier or other waitress see it.

However, their dishonesty did not spoilt our trip as they are not worth for us to get angry. But I would definitely be wary of VIETNEMESE in future.

Da Lat

This is the Catholic church where we spend sometimes, admiring, exploring and praying.